YouTuber sentenced for antisemitic abuse during online livestream
A YouTuber who directed antisemitic abuse towards a Jewish woman during an online livestream has been sentenced for a hate crime.
The CPS prosecuted Alan Leggett, 44, who was sentenced today (16 November 2023) to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months at Canterbury Crown Court. He was also given a 15-year restraining order. He previously pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress.
On 22 September 2020, while broadcasting live on YouTube, Leggett targeted offensive and antisemitic abuse towards the victim who he knew was Jewish.
The victim knew the defendant through her work for an organisation which monitors antisemitic abuse online.
Matthew Beard, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS South East, said: “The antisemitic abuse from Alan Leggett was deeply offensive, not only to the victim, but also to all those within and outside the Jewish community.
“Hate crime is truly abhorrent and no one should be subjected to abuse online because of their race or religion.
“The CPS are committed to prosecuting hate crime and, where a case results in a successful conviction, we will continue to apply for harsher sentences to reflect the severity of these crimes. If you see or experience such unacceptable discriminatory abuse, I urge you to report it to the police so that they can investigate it and help us bring the perpetrators to justice."
While this crime happened before the ongoing Israel-Gaza crisis, the CPS continues to work alongside the police to combat the recent surges in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crime and will not hesitate to prosecute where our legal test is met.
Notes to editors
- Alan Leggett [DOB: 07/05/79] pleaded guilty to one count of sending a letter/electronic communication/article with intent to cause distress or anxiety at Canterbury Crown Court on 24 May 2022.
- He was sentenced at the same court on 16 November 2023 to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months, 15 rehabilitation requirement days, a curfew (from 8pm to 3am) for six months, 150 hours unpaid work and a 15-year restraining order. He must also pay £250 toward court costs and a victim surcharge.
- Hate crimes are where either hostility is demonstrated at the time of the offence, or immediately before or after doing so, or where the crime is motivated ‘wholly or partly’ by hostility based on perceived religion, race, sexual orientation or disability.